**Here is a list of 15 items you can easily store that you may not have considered. 1. Disposable lighters 2. Toilet paper 3. Trash bags 4. Manual can openers 5. Vinegar 6. Duct tape 7. Baking soda 8. Garden seeds 9. Cast iron cookware 10. Books and educational materials 11. Manual tools 12. Fishing gear 13. Solar chargers 14. Bleach 15. Hand-crank radio
Wondering why you might need these things? Watch here: 15 Things YOU NEVER Think To STOCKPILE But Should!
GARDEN HAPPENINGS:
Not much is happening in the garden. Mostly I’m just trying to keep everything from dying! The tomatoes are waning — just a few need to ripen. I see flowers on the bell peppers.
I finally dug up a bag of potatoes. I’m always surprised at how FEW potatoes there are. Planting, fertilizing, watering for such a small harvest. But…. I’m practicing.
I’ll be having some of these for dinner. The others will go upstairs, on the guest bed, on a towel, and covered by another towel for a week or so to let them develop a thicker skin for storing – at least until we can eat them. DON’T WASH THEM. Store them dry.
THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: milk
When was the last time you bought powdered milk? It has a shorter shelf life than wheat, sugar and beans. You SHOULD be rotating your milk like everything else. (okay, I’m totally NOT doing that – but I SHOULD!) Otherwise, if you don’t rotate it, you’ll eventually have to just throw it away! I think I have #10 cans of milk that are dated 1994. That makes them 32 years old!!! Even if they did taste fine, they probably wouldn’t have much nutritional value. But, as a wise woman said to me once, don’t throw them away. Give THOSE away to people who come begging for food.
Powdered milk today is NOT like it was in the 70’s. It has a much better taste and texture. It is NOT cheaper than buying milk at the store. But like all things I store, if there is NO milk at the store, I’d really like something to have on my cereal!
Recommended: 4 lb. per person per month. If you buy pouches of milk at the Home Storage Center, that would be 2 1/2 pouches per month per person. Milk is $6 per pouch. Five pouches = $30. That’s milk, for a month, for 2 people. Just about the cost of lunch at McDonalds!!!
Find a location here:
Home Storage Center Locations
MISC. PURCHASE: hand crank emergency radio
Like everything, there are varying prices. This one is under $20. There are solar cells on the top, but I suspect it takes many hours to charge from the solar.
Emergency Hand Crank Radio Emgykit – 7400mWh AM/FM/NOAA Solar Hand Crank Emergency Radio with LED Flashlights for Emergencies
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES
Lucky Pancakes
2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 c. oil
2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs separated – beat whites separately, and then fold in.
French Pancakes
My kids call these Grandma Pancakes.
We cook them for special occasions (Easter morning, Christmas morning, etc.) AND, of course, Grandma makes them every time she babysits overnight.
It’s a “per person” recipe. For Craig and me, I make 1 1/2 times the recipe.
For one person:
2 eggs – I put them in the blender and mix
1/2 c. milk – add and blend
2 TB sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c. flour
Blend. I do NOT make paper thin layers in the frying pan, although you could. I just fill the bottom of the pan with a layer of batter. Turning them is a trick because they are so big. When they’re done, I put butter and syrup down the middle and roll them up with a fork. They are SOOO good! My dad used to make them for us and top them with strawberries and whipped cream.
Granola
This is my favorite granola recipe. It’s so crunchy and yummy. This recipe makes 6 c.
3 1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. chopped almonds
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. sunflower seeds
You can get all this in the bulk section at my local Winco. Actually, you can add any type of nuts or seeds you want.
Mix
In a separate small pan
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. vegetable or olive oil
2 TB brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Heat to blend, but don’t boil! Add to the oats.
Spread out on an oiled cookie sheet. Bake 325˚ for 20-25 minutes. Stir once or twice while cooking. Remove.
Add 1 1/2 c. raisins or any other dried fruit you like.
Marti Shelley
